Statement - What if the victims are civilians, not terrorists?

We agree that the law enforcement groups are ought to be vigilant for the protection of the civilians, with or without threats against terrorist elements. In this same vein, we congratulate police authorities who are able to combine vigilance with temperance, particularly the use of their firepower against suspects to prevent abuse or mistake.

The case of slain alleged terrorists, Datu Ismael "Alex" Usop and Datu Niel Ulama, alias Victor Ulama Zimenez raises some questions against the circumstances that led to the killing. Nothing can be done any longer since the suspects are already dead. Hopefully though the unfortunate incident was not a mistake. Media reports indicated that suspects engaged the pursuing CIDG and policemen one hour after the two suspects had left an alleged bomb near an entrance to SM. They were later identified by IDs indicating they were civilians. Apart from an alleged bomb, there was "nothing solid to tag Usop and Ulama" to the Rajah Solaiman Revolutionary Movement with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf.

While an immediate action is called for against any danger, it is a known fact that an authority with a gun in his hand is often carried away by overzealousness to annihilate their perceive opponents. Many of those cases remain unresolved even when they were clearly seen as violation of the rule of engagement when authorities should be using their superior power only against clear and present danger.

Were Usop and Ulama real terrorists? What if they were civilians as shown by IDs found in their possession? Will this case another one to be shelved and forgotten because the police had only done their duty? Sorry na lang sa sinumang mapagkamalan? What happens to justice and due process?

LEONOR B. GOMEZ
TFDP Visayas Coordinator